Sonified Infrared Spectra and Their Interpretation by Blind and Visually Impaired Students

To make the analysis of infrared (IR) spectra accessible to students who are blind and visually impaired (BVI), the visual information of the spectra was converted into nonspeech sounds using the open-source programs JDXview v0.2 and CSV to MIDI converter. In the sonified infrared spectra (SIRS), ti...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of chemical education 2013-08, Vol.90 (8), p.1028-1031
Main Authors: Pereira, Florbela, Ponte-e-Sousa, João C, Fartaria, Rui P. S, Bonifácio, Vasco D. B, Mata, Paulina, Aires-de-Sousa, Joao, Lobo, Ana M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Absorption spectra
Acoustics
Blindness
Class Activities
Converters
Correlation analysis
Distance Education
Distance learning
Educational activities
Frequencies
Functional groups
Identification
Infrared analysis
Infrared spectra
Infrared spectroscopy
Learning Activities
Musical instruments
Open source software
Organic chemistry
Science education
Source programs
Spectrum analysis
Students
Students with disabilities
Visual Impairments
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Summary:To make the analysis of infrared (IR) spectra accessible to students who are blind and visually impaired (BVI), the visual information of the spectra was converted into nonspeech sounds using the open-source programs JDXview v0.2 and CSV to MIDI converter. In the sonified infrared spectra (SIRS), time is used as a spectral frequency indicator, and the range of the selected musical instrument frequencies is correlated with the intensity of the corresponding band absorptions. To simplify the identification of the absorption bands in the SIRS, seven audible distinguishable time markers were added: at the beginning, 3000, 2500, 2000, 1500, 1000 cm–1, and at the end. This approach allows the fast identification of typical functional groups, or a set of frequencies related to a particular structural pattern in a molecule. By conveying IR spectral data, SIRS will aid BVI students’ chemical education; SIRS can be used either for distance learning or in classroom activities.
ISSN:0021-9584
1938-1328
DOI:10.1021/ed4000124